How it feels to read when you have dyslexia

Font designed by Daniel Britton that recreates the feeling of reading in someone with dyslexia

Published:17:56Tuesday 22 March 2016

Share this article

A graphic designer has created a new font which recreates the feeling of reading in someone with dyslexia.

Daniel Britton failed most of his exams at school, and was not diagnosed with the condition until he was 18 when he discovered he had the reading ability of a ten-year-old and the writing ability of an 11-year-old.

You often hear of a day dreamer in a class, or the kid who just switches off - that was me

Daniel

The 26-year-old later created a ‘dyslexic alphabet’, in the hope that adults, teachers and fellow pupils will be better able to empathise and support those with dyslexia.

Now, an online crowdfunder for a Dyslexia Awareness Pack has raised the required £2,000, and will hopefully see the pack distributed in school around the world.

It is estimated one in ten people suffer with dyslexia to some degree, and Daniel is hoping that by enabling people to better understand the condition, more children can be helped.

He said: “I wouldn’t have got where I am if it wasn’t for my graphics tutor in my last year of school who spent a lot of her own time with me to make sure I had the right assessment.

“When you have dyslexia you need someone to know you have it.”

Daniel says he was only allowed back into study at sixth form because the teachers “thought he was nice”.

And after graduating from the Leigh Technology College in Dartford, Kent, he went on to study at University of the Arts London, and now works for a design company Bunch.

He created the typeface in his final year at Uni, and has now raised £2,000 online so his Dyslexia Awareness Pack can be printed and distributed globally.

The typeface removes sections of the letters to simulate the difficulties dyslexia-sufferers face on a day to day basis.

He said: “What this typeface does is slows down the reading time of a person who isn’t dyslexic to the time of someone with it.

Dyslexia is a breakdown in communication in the brain which can slow the absorption of information to a childlike speed - unlike learning disabilities, it does not affect intelligence.

Daniel said: “Schools nowadays are incredibly outdated. I contacted the BDA (British Dyslexia Association) and I asked them to send out a dyslexic pack to me.

“I got sent a black and white bible for dyslexia. I just thought ‘who’s this for? Who are you helping with this? How is this inspirational?’

“I was so shocked they were sending out a text book, with over 400 pages in, to help a dyslexic person.

“They also have an inspirational poster of Brian Connelly on it, which is completely outdated. Children don’t know who he is.

“If I can help someone achieve a C in maths rather than a D, that would be amazing.

“You often hear of a day dreamer in a class, or the kid who just switches off - that was me.

“I had absolute no interest of learning at all. It was such a struggle.

“When a teacher dumps a textbook in front of you and says get on and learn it, it’s just a complete waste of time and resources.

“I’ve had a lot of interest for these packs, so once I’ve raised enough cash, I’ll then start to send them out.”

Trending

Housing designated for the older generations in the pipeline for Garstang